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Camera at the Mart attended the weekly sale of fat cattle in Ballymena Mart last week, where there was a much sharper edge for the 207 animals that went under the hammer.
With an increased turnout of buyers in a competitive mood on forward cattle, prices were up on previous weeks and in complete contrast to the downward trend in factory prices.
Mart manager Sam McNabney commented on the sale, saying that prices being paid for good-quality short-keep and heavy-fleshed cattle are running well ahead of finished prices.
Buyers were extremely competitive on short-keep heifers, with prices reaching 217p/kg for a Belgian Blue animal weighing 510kg and selling for £1,197.
This was followed by a good entry of U grading Charolais-bred animals selling to 215p/kg for a 570kg animal which made £1,182, with 210p/kg paid on a 570kg animal that sold for £1,197.
Prices peaked at £1,472 for a 740kg Charolais, with other noted prices of £1,285 and £1,280 paid for heavy fleshed animals weighing 640kg to 680kg.
Heavy fleshed Angus heifers sold to £1,394 for a 680kg animal or 205p/kg, with lighter types weighing 570kg selling from £1,128 to £1,138.
Top-quality Limousin heifers sold to £1,222 for a 630kg animal, followed by £1,090 to £1,128 for animals weighing 570kg to 580kg.
Bullocks sold to a top price per kilo of 215p/kg for a 630kg Charolais which sold for £1,354, followed by 214p/kg paid for a 630kg Limousin animal, or £1,356.
Prices peaked at £1,504 for a 760kg Charolais. Other stand-out lots sold from £1,356 to £1,417 for good-quality Charolais-cross animals weighing 660kg to 750kg.
Limousin bullocks sold to £1,379 for a 730kg animal, with lighter types weighing 590kg selling to £1,103.
Angus bullocks were limited in number. Good-quality lots sold to £1,202 for a 650kg animal, with lighter types making £936 for a 480kg animal.
Friesian bullocks sold from 140p to 175p/kg, with a 720kg animal making £1,260.
Beef cows sold to £1,432 for an 800kg Blonde d’Aquitaine animal, with a price range of 144p to 186p/kg on offer. Friesian cows sold from 90p to 113p/kg, with £768 paid for a 680kg animal.
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